For the Community

A perfect setting on Lake Martin

For weddings, retreats, meetings, events and more

Children’s Harbor, near Alexander City, Alabama, is a peaceful, wooded, 66-acre habitat positioned on the banks of beautiful Lake Martin. Each year, we partner and sponsor more than 30 illness-related camps, but also rent our camp facilities to groups of varying sizes for things like weddings, church retreats, board meetings, events and more. Learn more below. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

A soul-stirring atmosphere

that invites focus and renewal

A popular destination for a good reason.

With accommodations for housing 400 guests across six facilities nestled along the shores of Lake Martin, Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin is a popular host to retreats, meetings, reunions and other group functions.

The environment of Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin allows guests to step out of the daily hustle and bustle of their lives, laying a solid atmosphere for renewal, fresh ideas, different perspectives and relaxing fun.

We can’t wait to share the view with you.

We look forward to hosting your church group soon. For complete details and to coordinate your event at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, email Wanda Coker or call (334) 857-2040.

Church Retreats & Events

Finding a place to slow down and wrap yourself in nature can, almost by itself, fill your spirit and draw you closer to God.

It’s what hundreds of church groups, including men’s retreats, women’s retreats and youth retreats, have found to be true as our guests. Indoor venues and outdoor activities come together to let walls fall, spirits swell and renewed healing and happiness happen.

It’s also important and comforting to know our facilities can be rented individually or together to house groups - large and small. From semi-private sleeping to bunked sleeping quads, equipped kitchens and places to dine and meet - Children’s Harbor is ready to welcome your group.

A few of the outdoor activities you’ll enjoy are breath-taking sunrise and sunset views, swimming (pool and lake), canoeing, miniature golf, a playground and campfires for night-time fun — and maybe a few too many smores.

Corporate Meetings & Events

Allow your team to step away from the everyday routine. It’s an excellent way to recharge and rebuild — for greater success on all levels.

Private cabins, abundant meeting rooms and furnished conference centers, all tucked into a natural environment with lake views, creates an incredible backdrop for successful meetings and retreats to happen.

Our venues offer a time and place to focus, and relax, based on your team’s needs - both as a group and individually - and for both indoor and outdoor activities and meetings. As a guest, you’ll have access to the same amenities our camp guests have - including miniature golf, canoeing, and swimming.

Club & Group Meetings

Whether for planning, relaxing or team building - our atmosphere is enabling and our venues are well equipped for your next meeting.

Clubs and groups find Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin a great place to come together time and time again - partially because of the comfortable and well-equipped facilities ready to accommodate groups of almost any size.

But the things your group may enjoy the most are things like sitting on the porch at night, hearing the lake waves lapping while enjoying star filled skies - all over meaningful conversation with lots of “ahhs" and “wow’s” intertwined.

Your events support our mission.

Although we believe you’ll find many reasons to allow Children’s Harbor the honor of providing the setting for your event, it’s important for you to know that funding received from renting our facilities directly supports the services we provide.

One Purpose

Children’s Harbor is a non-profit organization that serves seriously ill children and their families with services including coaching, counseling, education, recreation, respite and other supportive services during and after hospitalization.

Two Locations

During hospitalization, we offer services and activities to children and their families at our Family Center, connected to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. After hospitalization, we provide camps and other activities at our Lake Martin campus in Alexander City.

College & University Retreats

Students discover a place and time, between back-to-back exams and unrealistic schedules, to rejuvenate at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin.

For most any-sized group, our campus and facilities are designed and well-equipped for retreats. From semi-private sleeping in rooms and cabins to bunked sleeping quads, as well as kitchens and places to dine and meet, we believe your retreat will be wildly successful with us.

A few of the outdoor activities you’re group can enjoy include swimming (pool and lake), canoeing, miniature golf and campfires for morning devotions or night-time star gazing.

Family Reunions

Bringing families together under the shaded sun with scents of favorite foods has a way of perfectly blending nostalgia, comfort and hope into a heart.

In that way, families are indescribable. We pass on stories of strength, we inspire each other. We laugh, we rest and we remember.

Children’s Harbor enjoys the honor of providing such a place and environment where families can come together for a moment in time to create lifetime bonds and unforgettable memories.

Birthday and Anniversary Parties

Celebrate a memorable, fun-filled birthday or anniversary on the shores of Lake Martin - inside or outside - any time of the year.

Whether your special day is in the heat of the summer or chill of winter, Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin provides a fun and upscale alternative to boring venues.

Equipped to handle nearly any sized birthday celebration - indoors or out - and from self-catered parties to access of one of our kitchens, your next party will be just the way you dreamed it could be.

Praises for our Events Facilities

“Best Facilities in Alabama.”

First Baptist Church Trussville

“We loved the cottage and being so close to the lake. Lots of things for children to do.”

McAliley family

Life changing illness camps

For children with serious illnesses and their families

Camps that create more than memories.

Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin is happy to be a partner and sponsor for more than 30 illness-related camps each year. Each camp is designed around the needs and abilities of the children and families they host, so much more than memories are made. They provide a place to rest, reconnect and reenergize each other in safe indoor and outdoor environments.

We currently partner with more than 20 organizations representing a wide variety of illnesses and diagnoses each year. See our current camp partners and view all upcoming camps. We’re honored to be a part of these groups and organizations.

Grants to make camps possible.

If you’re a group focused on hosting an illness camp at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, contact us to discuss receiving a facility grant. Facility grants are awarded based on the funds available to Children’s Harbor and cover the costs of renting the campsite and facility amenities.

Contact us for a possible grant.

Take an online tour of our campsites and facility. If our facility meets your needs and you’d like more information, email Myrle Grate or call (334) 857-2014. We would enjoy the opportunity of learning more about your organization and discovering if Children’s Harbor can assist you in furthering your mission of serving children and their families.

Camps Praises

“The camp facilities are wonderful. The children and volunteers had a great time.”

Nation MS Society

“Working hand and hand with children’s Harbor Staff and management is a dream. The professional way they do everything provides an amazing camp experience.”

HBDA Camp Clot Not

“It is always a pleasure to come to Children’s Harbor.”

Lakeshore Camp Strive

Beautiful Weddings on Lake Martin

Weddings & Receptions at Children's Harbor

Beautiful weddings start with beautiful settings.

Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin provides an incredible backdrop for weddings. Choose from two venues - both nestled in a picturesque environment on Lake Martin in Alex City. Our two facilities, Children's Chapel and Church in the Pines, host various sized weddings and offer a single contact through your wedding day. It’s no wonder we’re one of the most sought after wedding destinations in the region.

Your wedding supports our mission.

Although we believe you’ll find many reasons to allow Children’s Harbor the honor of providing the setting for your wedding, it’s important for you to know that funding received from renting our facilities directly supports the services we provide.

One Purpose

Children’s Harbor is a non-profit organization that serves seriously ill children and their families with services including coaching, counseling, education, recreation, respite and other supportive services during and after hospitalization.

Two Locations

During hospitalization, we offer services and activities to children and their families at our Family Center, connected to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. After hospitalization, we provide camps and other activities at our Lake Martin campus in Alexander City.

Choose your venue and get in touch.

We hope to have the honor of hosting your wedding and reception soon. You can learn more about Children’s Chapel and Church in the Pines under the Venue tab of this page.

Wedding Venue Praises

"The chapel is traditional, absolutely beautiful and I wouldn't change a thing."

Dan Lucas - Children's Chapel, Harbor House and Hank Williams Cabin

"Beautiful location and facility for our daughter's wedding."

Tony Fridovich - Children's Chapel

"Our Wedding would not have been as beautiful if it had been anywhere else. Children's Harbor is a wonderful place to have a wedding."

Kristen Carroll - Children's Chapel and Harbor House

"We had a perfect wedding day at the chapel. It was a gorgeous venue! We have received many compliments and would recommend Children's Harbor to anyone!"

Blades/Bailey wedding - Children's Chapel, Hank Williams Cabin

Venues on Lake Martin

Make your memorable events even more spectacular

Children’s Chapel

With a capacity of 125, the chapel is the perfect setting for an intimate group of family and friends to celebrate a couple's beginning a new life as husband and wife, for a quiet and reverent setting during a retreat, or even for creative planning meetings for organization or corporate leaders.

Church in the Pines

Corporate and church retreats, clubs, family reunions, as well as brides and grooms, looking for a perfect outdoor venue favor the natural environment — being surrounded by trees with a calming rhythm of waves lapping against the beach.

Positioned near the Kowaliga Bridge and the shore of Lake Martin, the magnificent suspended wood-beam structure includes room for 850 to sit sheltered, while even more people can be seated on the surrounding lawn.

Church in the Pines Amenities

Artistic focal point for ceremony and faith-based meetings with roughly-hewn cross suspended above.

Backdrop of ceremony looks over Lake Martin.

Single aisle (for bride and procession to pass through).

Covered outdoor seating for up to 850 people with bench-style seating.

Room for 150 more guests on the lawn.

A separate dressing room (for the bride).

Bathrooms provided.

Cater friendly.

An installed sound system is available.¹

¹ In order to protect our equipment, our Children's Harbor trained technician must be employed. His fee and contact information is available upon request. If you wish to forgo the fee, you may bring your own sound system. Please note that your system cannot be hooked up to our speaker system.

Answers to common questions

Planning a group event takes a lot of coordination and access to information and details. We’ve included answers to many of the questions we anticipate you’ll have when it comes to renting and planning a group event at Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin, but also feel free to email us or call (334) 857-2133 for additional information. You can also visit the events page to see the upcoming schedule for various facilities and campsites.